DC Neighborhood Walking Tours

Free Tours by Foot is proud to present the original Washington, D.C. Neighborhood Walking tours. For tourists and locals alike, explore off the beaten path. Like always, our guides work just for tips, so you can decide what you think the tours are worth. How can you beat that?

Available for Private Tours year round.

Penn Ave

D.C.’s Main street that stretched between the White House and Capitol is filled with the beginnings of D.C.’s history. From Central Market to the original Chinatown, Penn Ave is now filled with federal buildings.

Adams Morgan

Today it’s known as the place to be on the weekend, but Adams Morgan has had it’s ups and downs as the hip spot in D.C. The cultural history of AdMo weaves from upper class to less wealthy immigrants to a mix of the two. As you walk through the streets you see the mansions of 19th century wealthy residents and the bodegas of today’s Hispanic shopkeepers. Seemingly standard buildings hiding in the shadows hide the histories of D.C.’s original suburb. We’ll see the origins of everyone’s favorite toy store, the site of the tragedy at the Knickerbocker and a nearly abandoned theater where a small Irish band named U2 opened for The Police.

U Street Corridor

A Victorian neighborhood turned riots. The U Street Corridor today is known for it’s speakeasies, concert halls and of course, Ben’s Chili Bowl. The tour visit’s Lincoln Theater, Bohemian Caverns, and the first African American YMCA. Ending at Meridian Hill Park where, if we time it right, you can catch the historic drum circle that has been occurring every Sunday for decades.

H Street NE

Did you know the Beatles played in D.C. before the Ed Sullivan show? Right here in Historic H Street NE. Like our U Street Corridor tour, this neighborhood was the site of the riots after Dr. King’s assassination. Like all up-and-coming neighborhoods, there is history here. We’ll visit Atlas Theater, the old Swampoodle neighborhood, and Dr. Granville Moore’s – which has more to offer than just Belgian Beer and Mussels.

Barracks Row/Eastern Market

The only historic market left in D.C., Eastern Market is still running strong with it’s veggies and crab cakes on weekdays and flea market on weekends. Along the 8th Street SE Corridor, affectionally known as Barracks Row after the Marine Barracks located down the street, is history from the beginning of D.C. to today. The birthplace of John Phillip Sousa and the place where Thomas Jefferson worshiped. We’ll see the Marine Barracks AND the Navy Yard.

Capitol Hill Residential

Capitol Hill has governmental buildings, but it’s also one of the oldest neighborhoods in D.C. We’ll see Lincoln Park with its own Abraham Lincoln Memorial and one to Mary McLeod Bethune, too. Frederick Douglass’ House before he moved up (both in position and literally) to Cedar Hill. Some of the most beautiful homes in the city, comparable to the grandeur of Georgetown, running down East Capitol Street.

Columbia Heights

Columbia Heights, like every neighborhood, in D.C. has gone through being farmlands to suburbs to a cultural center. From the start of the now famous Marriott hotel chain, to the hipster highlights of Wonderland Ballroom and BloomBars. There is more to this neighborhood than D.C.’s only Target!